Kia ora koutou,

It’s been a few weeks since returning to school after the fire, and we’d like to commend the Kaakano tamariki for their resilience and ability to adapt to the changes, as well as their teachers for their dedication. While the situation isn’t ideal, the kids remain happy, and teachers are doing their best to provide as normal a programme as possible. We’ve even had a couple of ‘open air’ Monday morning assemblies and have been grateful for the sunshine this term.

End-of-Year Events

Some children have been asking about the end-of-year events and how they’ll proceed without the PAC. While a few logistical challenges remain, we’ve worked hard to ensure these events can go ahead. Here are the details:

• Junior Prize Giving (All of Kaakano)
  Date: Thursday, 12th December
  Time: 9:30 am – approx. 10:15 am
  Location: Community Hall
  Teachers will contact parents if their child is receiving an award. The children will also perform some waiata during the event.
  
  
• PTA Christmas Picnic
  Date: Friday, 13th December
  Location: School Field (This event is weather-dependent.) 

• Senior Prize Giving and Year 8 Farewell
  Date: Monday, 16th December
  Time: 12:30 pm – approx. 2:15 pm
  Location: Community Hall
  Teachers will email whaanau if their child is receiving an award. The Year 8 students will also be farewelled during this event, followed by afternoon tea. We have hired a sound system and projector for the occasion.

• School Disco
  Date: Monday, 16th December (evening)
  Location: Community Hall

• Last day of school
• Date Tuesday 17th December finishes at 12pm.

Unfortunately, there won’t be a Powerful Learning Hui this term. All these events are loaded into the school calendar for your reference.

Planning for 2025

We’re also making plans for next year and are pleased to announce a new staff appointment. Ms. Rachel Inness will join us in 2025, replacing Mrs. Hannah Mould. Rachel, who is beginning her teaching career with us, brings a wealth of experience from her background as a police officer and her psychology degree, skills that will be valuable in the classroom. Rachel has two children, one starting university next year and the other in Year 8 at a local school. She will join the Roopuu Maahuri team.

Here’s the teaching team for 2025:

• Roopuu Kaakano 1: Miss Emily Hollis, Mrs Suzanne Gunn, and Mrs Hayley Barnes
• Roopuu Kaakano 2: Mrs Kim MacPherson and Mrs Rachel Goodin
• Roopuu Maahuri (Year 3 & 4): Ms Joe Thornley and Ms Rachel Inness
• Roopuu Maahuri (Year 4 & 5): Mr Jeffrey Eves and Mrs Anna-Maree Parkes
• Roopuu Puaawai (Year 5 & 6): Mrs Karen Matthews and Miss Emma Walters-Freke
• Roopuu Puaawai (Year 7 & 8): Mrs Nicky Khoo, Mr Philip Greig, and Mrs Anne Weinberg (part-time)

Our Year 5 cohort is shared between two learning environments. We will inform Year 5 families of their child's class placement for 2025 within the next week or so.

We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events, including our Student Led- Conferences. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Ngaa mihi,
Nyree Olliver